Throughout this campaign, Rangers’ priority has been to successfully defend their Scottish Premiership title, a far more realistic aim than winning the Europa League.
However, that has now changed. At a time when Rangers sit six points adrift of Celtic with three matches remaining, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team have earned their place in the final of that European competition courtesy of yet another famous Ibrox night versus RB Leipzig.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Germany, Rangers roared back to claim a 3-1 win, John Lundstram scoring the decisive goal with 10 minutes remaining to give the club a chance of lifting their first European trophy for 50 years.
While Van Bronckhorst will not want to be seen gifting the title to Celtic, a sense of perspective is required in the aftermath of the emotion-fuelled night on Thursday, and there is little value in further pushing his players further to the limit with a showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt to come on May 18.
Regardless of the team that Van Bronckhorst selects on Sunday, Rangers will remain favourites, but they arguably need somewhat of a comedown to give themselves every chance of peaking again in Seville.
From Dundee United’s viewpoint, they will feel that they are travelling to Glasgow at the best possible time as they bid to end the campaign in fourth spot.
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With Celtic to follow three days later, there is an acceptance that Tam Courts and his squad face an uphill battle, particularly with just two wins to their name in 10 outings.
Nevertheless, belief should have returned after the 1-0 triumph over Motherwell last weekend, Dylan Levitt netting the only goal of the game just before half time.
That clean sheet was also the first recorded since a shutout at Partick Thistle on February 12, and Courts will now hope that his players are ready to capitalise on a window of opportunity on Sunday.
